Department for Transport

Shipping: Polar Regions

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation there has been with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the Polar Code from 1 January 2017.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government has not yet implemented the Polar Code which is due to enter into force next year. However, we will formally consult all stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, before we introduce the UK Regulations.

Shipping: Training

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds were available to employers from the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) budget for rating to officer conversion training in each year since 2013-14; what proportion of that budget was spent in each such year; and what proportion of the total SMarT budget that amount represented in each such year.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding was available to employers from the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) budget for trainee seafarer ratings in each year since 2013-14; what proportion of the budget was spent in each such year; and what proportion of the total SMarT budget that amount represented in each such year.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Although Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) has a fixed budget, funding continues to be allocated on the basis of demand. The figures below therefore reflect the level of demand for rating to officer conversion training and for ratings training – both of which have been met in full.  Rating to Officer Conversion TrainingYearExpenditure £% of SMarT Budget2013/1415,8790.132014/159,6490.062015/1623,9980.16 Ratings TrainingYearExpenditure £% of SMarT Budget2013/146,5940.0552014/151,2700.0082015/162,0560.014 As in previous years, £100,000 has been earmarked to train ratings and for rating to officer conversion training for each year between April 2014 and March 2016. Demand for this training has been very low and the allocation has not been used. The shortfall in demand for ratings training may still be due to the evident preference for Apprenticeship training rather than the traditional route. The SMarT budget was increased from £12 million to £15 million per annum from April 2014 and is reflected in the percentage figures from 2014-15 onwards.

Railways: Standards

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that users of the rail network are aware of the compensation schemes available to them when their trains are delayed or cancelled.

Claire Perry: I welcome the publication of the Office of Rail and Road's (ORR’s) recommendations in March this year following Which?'s super-complaint into passenger compensation. It is vital that customers who suffer delays or cancellations understand their rights to compensation and have access to it in a timely way. Industry must now do much more to make the process quick and user-friendly. We are already working with the Association of Train Operating Companies and the ORR to bring about improvements, and my Department will respond to the ORR’s report in the summer of 2016.

Taxis: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London about proposals to improve passenger safety and insurance regulations for the private hire vehicle trade.

Andrew Jones: We have regular meetings with the Mayor of London and discuss a range of topics including the Private Hire Vehicle trade. The respective standards between taxis and private hire vehicles are a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). The TfL Board recently approved a number of reforms to the private hire vehicle regulations, including more robust insurance requirements.

Volkswagen

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will seek assurances from Volkswagen that software and technical fixes made in response to problems with emissions testing will not change engine output, fuel consumption and performance data.

Andrew Jones: The UK’s Vehicle Certification Agency issued the type approval for some Volkswagen Group vehicles. For these the agency is working with the manufacturer to review and approve the proposed fixes. They are carrying out tests to ensure that after the fix is applied the vehicles meet all the legal requirements including emissions, and that other vehicle characteristics are unchanged, including power output, fuel consumption and engine noise.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Rural Areas: Finance

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the funding formula is that was used for the 2016-17 allocation of Rural Services Delivery Grant.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Rural Services Delivery Grant is distributed to the top quartile of authorities ranked by their super-sparsity, as calculated using data from the 2011 Census. The amount that each authority receives is dependent on their super-sparsity above the threshold value of 0.089302, their total resident population (calculated using information from the 2011 Census) and the types of services that the council delivers. Further information on the methodology can be found in Part K of the 2014-15 Local Government Finance Report.

Leisure: Facilities

Tom Pursglove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2016 to Question 31911, if he will make it his policy to extend the protection granted to playing fields to any community leisure facilities by ensuring that Sport England must be consulted before the sale of any such facility; and if he will ensure that Sport England is sufficiently resourced to carry out that role effectively.

Mr Marcus Jones: We have no plans to change policy on the protection of community leisure facilities. Local communities are best able to decide which local assets are of importance to them and, under the Localism Act 2011, communities can already ensure that they are consulted before the sale of community leisure facilities by nominating them for listing as Assets of Community Value.In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework already provides strong protection for open spaces. The ‘Promoting healthy communities’ section of the Framework (see http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/policy/achieving-sustainable-development/delivering-sustainable-development/8-promoting-healthy-communities/ ) makes clear that existing open spaces and sports and recreation facilities should not be built on unless an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown it to be surplus to requirements, or the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location. The Framework also enables local communities to identify green areas of particular importance to them for special protection by designating them as Local Green Space, through the preparation of local and neighbourhood plans.

Housing: Advertising

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that more people are aware of (a) the Right to Buy and (b) other housing schemes offered by the Government.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has run a Right to Buy marketing campaign since the scheme was reinvigorated in 2012. The campaign is aimed at ensuring eligible council and housing association tenants are made aware of their opportunity to buy their home at a discount and gives them up-to-date information on changes to the discount rates and eligibility criteria. Activity has included direct marketing, radio, digital and local press advertising and out of home roadside posters.In October 2015 my Department also launched the Own Your Home campaign – aimed at persuading young working people to look again at home ownership and driving take up of appropriate Government home-buying schemes when this is the right decision for them. Drawing together a range of Government schemes, the campaign comprises: radio, digital advertising, social media, out of home (on street posters), consumer press advertising and a major media partnership in the Sun newspaper – as well as linking visually and verbally into activities for the individual schemes.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nagorno Karabakh

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mr David Lidington: The UK is deeply concerned about the recent upsurge in fighting on the Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact. I issued a statement on 2 April calling for the sides to halt the fighting and to exercise restraint. After four days of intense fighting, a ceasefire was announced on 5 April; although the situation remains tense. While the UK has no direct role in negotiations, we strongly support the work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs, who have recently visited the region. We will continue to urge the sides to work with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to reach a negotiated peace settlement.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times she has attended public meetings of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee since her appointment.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in September 2012, I have met the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on seven occasions.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Students: Loans

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his Department's timetable is for the implementation of the provision of postgraduate student loans of up to £10,000.

Joseph Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ UIN 18668.

Research: EU Grants and Loans

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of research funding received by UK universities came from EU funding streams in each year since 2005.

Joseph Johnson: EU funding as a proportion of the total volume of research grants and contracts in all UK Higher Education Institutions rose from 8.3% in 2005/06 to 15.5% in 2013/14. The figures for the individual years (based on the Higher Education Institutions’ financial year of 1 August to 31 July) are as follows:2005/2006Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £3,120,606,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £259,439,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 8.3% 2006/2007Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £3,376,991,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £303,991,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 9.0% 2007/2008Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £3,721,881,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £331,062,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 8.9% 2008/2009Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £4,144,582,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £391,555,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 9.4% 2009/2010Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £4,345,421,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £452,505,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 10.4% 2010/2011Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £4,432,394,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £513,016,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 11.6% 2011/2012Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £4,509,715,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £599,729,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 13.3% 2012/2013Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £4,768,549,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £690,285,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 14.5% 2013/2014Total UK-wide research grants and contracts £5,083,991,000EU-sourced UK-wide Grants and Contracts £789,201,000Percentage EU-sourced Grants and Contracts 15.5%

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Public Expenditure

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding his Department provided to each of its partner organisations in each year from 2010; and what the (a) type and (b) sector of those organisations is.

Joseph Johnson: Table 1 sets out the total funding provided to the Department’s partner organisations for each financial year since 2009-10. Funding includes grant-in-aid funding or an increased equity investment.Table 2 sets out these partner organisations according to type and sector.   Since 2010 the Department has significantly reduced its number of partner organisations down to 44. We committed to further reductions as part of the BIS2020 programme of departmental transformation to make the Department cheaper and simpler, and to deliver better services to users.



Partner organisation funding statistics
(Word Document, 127 KB)

Cement: EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page one of the UK/France joint non-paper on the Implementation of Tiered Free Allocation in Phase IV of the EU Emissions Trading System, what the evidential basis is for the assumption that the UK cement industry can pass on additional costs to customers of purchasing carbon dioxide allowances without risking carbon leakage.

Anna Soubry: The UK wants to see continued support for British industry as they decarbonise. In the context of a declining EU Emissions Trading System cap it is essential that free allowances should be focussed on those sectors at greatest risk of carbon leakage. Sectors at greatest risk of carbon leakage have high carbon costs and are highly exposed to international trade.The proposed tiering scenarios set out in the UKs position paper are indicative and do not represent a confirmed UK Government position. We recognise the concerns of the cement sector and will continue to work with them to clarify data issues and consider further scenarios to those set out in the UKs proposal.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Hanover

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have had with Hanover Communications International Ltd in the last year on behalf of which clients.

Joseph Johnson: Departments publish details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries’ meetings with external organisations, and Special Advisors’ meetings with senior media figures. BIS transparency data is published online at www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-quarterly-publications-april-to-june-2012 and https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-special-advisers.

Land Registry

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on whether the same data protection and privatisation obligations will apply for the company carrying out the functions of the Land Registry in the event that it is privatised under the (a) Government's preferred model of privatisation with a contract between the Government and a private operator and (b) alternative model of privatisation with independent economic regulation.

Anna Soubry: Government recognises the importance of data protection and data security. Data protection maintains confidence in the integrity of the register and the services of Land Registry. Under all the proposals put forward in the consultation, statutory data collected through core statutory functions would continue to be owned by government.In addition, a private sector operator would be a data processor and would be required to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. This controls how personal information is used by organisations, businesses or government.Everyone responsible for using data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. They must make sure the information is:used fairly and lawfully;used for limited, specifically stated purposes;used in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive;accurate and kept up to date;kept for no longer than is necessary;handled according to people’s data protection rights;kept safe and secure.All data controllers are accountable to the Information Commissioner who has powers to enforce data protection law and impose sanctions.

Land Registry

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the obligations for public bodies set out in the HM Treasury document, Managing Public Money, published in July 2013, will apply to the company given control of the operational functions of the Land Registry in the event that it is privatised under the (a) Government's preferred model of privatisation with contract between the Government and a private operator and (b) alternative model of privatisation with independent economic regulation.

Anna Soubry: Managing Public Money principles only apply to public sector bodies, and therefore no privatised bodies will fall under its guidelines.

Business: Regulation

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which regulations he has asked the EU Commission to (a) amend and (b) repeal on the basis of their effects on businesses in the UK.

Anna Soubry: The Government regularly presses the European Commission to amend or repeal EU rules in order to minimise the regulatory burdens imposed on UK business.In particular, we do this through the European Commission’s Regulatory Fitness (REFIT) programme – established in 2012 to review the stock of existing EU legislation in order to identify burdens, inconsistencies, gaps or ineffective measures and address them. This has generated progress in areas of significant UK priority, including Occupational Health and Safety and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) – where the Commission’s 2016 Work Programme put forward burden-cutting proposalsOverall, the Commission’s 2015 and 2016 Work Programmes proposed 100 withdrawals or modifications of pending proposals, and 39 repeals and 56 evaluations of existing EU laws.As part of the UK’s settlement with the EU, the European Commission is committed to reviewing the burden of regulation each year and introducing specific targets to reduce costs for businesses in the most burdensome areas.

EU Grants and Loans: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much EU (a) 7th Framework Programme and (b) Horizon 2020 funding has been provided to (i) universities, (ii) other research institutions and (iii) small businesses in the West Midlands in each of the last five years.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 19 April 2016



 The figures for organisations in the West Midlands are set out below. These reflect the full value of grant agreements signed in each calendar year, not the money received in that year. Higher and Secondary Education Organisations (HES) agreed funding (€): 20112012201320142015FP734,512,63865,197,54362,376,75123,703,605 Horizon 2020   10,025,43164,947,891 Non-profit Research organisations (REC) agreed funding (€): 20112012201320142015FP7459,7951,873,085946,0772,102,799 Horizon 2020   819,3402,297,233  All Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME) agreed funding (€): 20112012201320142015FP77,861,93411,503,70911,193,5392,773,696 Horizon 2020   3,471,18214,249,221 Please note that the SME figures may include some HES or REC organisations. The variation in the figures across the years in part reflects the fact that calls are competitively bid for and vary in the amount of funding available; and in part the fact that the FP7 budget was back-loaded, with increasing amounts of money available to award as grants in the final two years of the programme (2012-2013). In contrast, relatively few grants were awarded in the first year of Horizon 2020 (2014), which thereafter is due to run with annual budgets larger than those available to FP7. Overall, the UK was the second biggest recipient of EU research funding under FP7, and remains so under Horizon 2020.

Universities: Crimes of Violence

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the progress of the taskforce on reducing violence against women and girls on university campuses.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations have been received from students and student groups by the taskforce on reducing violence against women and girls on university campuses.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with Universities UK on reviewing the Zellick guidelines.

Joseph Johnson: The Government asked Universities UK to establish a taskforce to explore what more can be done by the higher education sector to prevent, and respond effectively, to incidents of violence and sexual harassment against women, hate crimes and other forms of harassment. The taskforce is expected to report its findings in the autumn.To date Universities UK have received 59 written representations from universities, plus additional evidence from a wide range of agencies and organisations.Universities UK has published an update of the recent taskforce meeting, which addressed the Zellick guidelines. The Government looks forward to receiving the taskforce’s final report in due course.

Wales Office

Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 13 April 2016 to Question 904364, whether he has contacted customers of Tata Steel's strip products division in order to secure the order book; and which customers he has so contacted.

Alun Cairns: Last week we made a public commitment to Tata customers to reassure them of Government support in securing a sale of Tata UK operations. We, in conjunction with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, continue to work closely with Tata to ensure that their customers and suppliers are aware of all the efforts the UK Government is making to achieve a long-term future for the industry.I have had meetings recently with companies which form part of Tata supply chain. I visited the Tata site at Shotton on Monday and am visiting the Tata sites at Trostre and Llanwern later this week as a continued effort to keep the dialogue open with the steel making communities.

Department for Education

Headteachers: Pay

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy schools have been found to have paid the head teacher at such schools more than the publicly disclosed salary in each of the last three years.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



Academy trusts are subject to a more rigorous accountability regime than other types of schools, including the production of annual audited accounts that allow us to identify and act upon irregularity more quickly.The Education Funding Agency has found one instance of where the head teacher has been paid more than the publicly disclosed salary in each of the last 3 years. The additional payments were in respect of chief executive or accounting officer responsibilities.

Academies: Governing Bodies

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 3.30 of Educational excellence everywhere, Cm 9230, when she plans to amend the academy articles of association models to remove the requirement for new academy trusts  and school governing boards to elect parent governors; and if she will take steps to enable existing academies to make that change.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 3.28 of Educational excellence everywhere, Cm 9230, when she plans to amend the model articles of government of academies to require each school in a multi-academy trust to have a school level governing body; and whether she plans that those model articles will set out the role of school level governing bodies to focus on understanding and championing the needs of pupils, parents and the wider local community.

Edward Timpson: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The model articles of association give multi-academy trust (MAT) boards the freedom to appoint a local governing body. The board is also free to decide on what, if any, governance functions they delegate to subsidiary governance structures at the level of either individual schools or clusters of schools. Whatever arrangements MATs use, they must set out and publish on their website their chosen arrangements in a clear scheme of delegation.The White Paper Educational Excellence Everywhere outlines our intention to place a new expectation on all academies to put in place specific arrangements to engage with all parents in a meaningful way to listen to their views and feedback. To enable a move to fully skills-based governance, the White Paper also announces an end to our requirement on new and existing trusts to reserve places on the board for elected parents.

Academies: Directors

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 3.35 of Educational excellence everywhere, Cm 9230, if she will issue guidance on levels of remuneration for non-executive academy trust directors.

Edward Timpson: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



Academy trusts are independent charities and must comply with charity law. This means that trust directors can only receive payment for carrying out trustee duties with Charity Commission authorisation.The Charity Commission will only authorise payment to academy trustees where it has been clearly shown to be in the charity’s interests. They will consider issues such as the reasons for payment, whether conflicts of interests are managed appropriately, whether the Principal Regulator (for academies this is the Secretary of State for Education) is agreeable and whether payment of any trustees is in the longer-term interests of the charity. These arrangements are set out in the Department’s Governance Handbook, available on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook. It is up to trusts to decide on the level of any such remuneration.Academy trusts operate under a robust accountability system which holds them to account for the results they achieve and their use of resources. This includes a requirement to publish audited accounts each year allowing the wider public chance to hold academy trusts to account to help make sure that spend is securing better outcomes for pupils.

Special Educational Needs

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 12 April 2016 to Question 32243, how many investigations her Department has carried out into cases where schools or early years settings have been accused of refusing to accept disabled children in each year since 2010; and what the outcomes of those investigations were.

Edward Timpson: If it is considered that a child or young person may have been refused admission to a school because of a disability, a claim for disability discrimination can be made to the First-tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs and Disability. The latest Disability Discrimination Statistics are available on GOV.UK[1].Claims for disability discrimination against early years settings are heard by the county courts.In 2014, 27,140 new statements or EHC plans were issued[2] and, in total, there are currently 240,185[3] children and young people with statements or EHC plans. Since 2013, the Department has received around 25 requests for an SEN determination about school admissions each year, although only three have resulted in directions to admit. In order to protect the identity of the child, we are unable to give details of these.[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/483768/tribunals-send-tables.xlsx[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2015 (Table 2)[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2015 (Table 1)

Academies: Curriculum

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for the National Curriculum when all schools become academies.

Nick Gibb: In 2014 the Government introduced a new, more rigorous national curriculum which was developed with regard to the views of subject experts and teachers and to the findings of international best practice comparisons.A system where every school is an academy will mean that the national curriculum will be a benchmark. It will serve an important role in setting out the level of knowledge-based, academically rigorous education which every child should experience.If academies or Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) want to deliver the national curriculum in their schools, they can do so confidently. The Government wants academies to use their freedoms to innovate and build challenging, tailored curricula to meet the particular needs of their pupils, their local area or the particular ethos of the school.

Academies: Finance

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 March 2016 to Question 30916, for what reason the 26 related party transactions by academy trusts classified as irregular or improper by the Education Funding Agency were not repaid by the trusts.

Edward Timpson: Repayment is considered on a case by case basis and may be sought where there has been a serious breach of requirements or standards of conduct. Some transactions may be classified as irregular or improper because of less serious procedural and compliance issues, or because of insufficient evidence to form an opinion. Repayment may not be pursued in these cases. The 26 related party transactions classified as irregular were assessed on this basis.

Children: Protection

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children were subject to child protection procedures in each year since 2010.

Edward Timpson: The requested information can be found within table A2 of the ‘Characteristics of children in need: 2014 to 2015’ statistical first release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2014-to-2015

Department for Education: European Commission

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on which occasions since her appointment she has met (a) staff from the European Commission Directorate-General (ECDG) for Communication and (b) communication officers from ECDG for Education and Culture.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State has not met any staff from the European Commission Directorate General for Communication or communication officers from the Directorate General for Education and Culture since her appointment.

Extended Schools

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what incentives she plans to encourage more schools to extend their teaching hours.

Nick Gibb: In March 2016, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget statement that over £500 million of additional funding will be allocated to give 25 per cent of secondary schools the opportunity to extend their school day to include a wider range of activities, such as sports, arts and debating. The Department is currently determining the details of how the funding with be allocated and will provide further details in due course.

European Union: Education

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to schools on the (a) teaching of the EU and (b) referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

Nick Gibb: The Department has not issued any guidance to schools on the teaching of the EU, or the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.Schools are aware of their duties regarding impartiality and treatment of political issues. Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996 require maintained schools to prevent political indoctrination and secure the balanced treatment of political issues. This duty is reflected in the model funding agreement for academies and free schools. Schools are best-placed to understand their pupils’ needs and to tailor their curricula accordingly. They are aware of their duties regarding impartiality and treatment of political issues, and are required to prevent political indoctrination and secure the balanced treatment of political issues. Teaching should equip pupils to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, to debate, and to make reasoned arguments. It should also prepare them to take their place in society as responsible citizens. At key stage 4, the national curriculum includes teaching about local, regional and international governance and the United Kingdom’s relations with the rest of Europe, the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the wider world.

Free Schools

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools have been delayed in opening due to the inability to secure a site for the school in each year since 2010.

Edward Timpson: Since 2010, where free schools have opened at a later date, this has been for a variety and often a combination of reasons – it would be misleading to attempt to identify which had been delayed solely or largely due to site issues. In each case the department will have balanced the risk of opening on the original date against all of the elements needed to be in place for a successful school.

EU Educational Policy

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to her Department was of providing information to the EU's Education and Training Monitor in each of the last three years.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education provides information to the EU’s Education and Training Monitor through the provision of data submitted as part of the UK’s joint UNESCO, OECD, and EUROSTAT (UOE) annual data return. This work is managed by the Department’s International Statistics Team and is a small part of wider work on the collection and use of international statistics. We estimate the annual staff cost to the Department of providing the UOE data at 0.5 of one full time equivalent post. We do not disaggregate the EU-specific element of this work as the data provided is common to all three international organisations.

Breast Ironing

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has provided to local authority children's services on the practice of breast ironing.

Edward Timpson: Breast ironing is child abuse and it is illegal. It cannot be excused as a cultural or traditional practice. Children’s services should safeguard children from this as from any other form of abuse. Statutory guidance for local authorities and others on how to safeguard children can be found in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’[1].The Home Office is leading cross-Government work to tackle so-called honour-based violence, and the Department for Education contributes to this work. I refer the Hon. Member to the response submitted by the Home Office to the Parliamentary Question on this issue, No. 34114, on 19 April 2016.[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419595/Working_Together_to_Safeguard_Children.pdf

Children in Care

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children living in regulated children's homes who were the responsibility of each local authority were placed (a) within that local authority area, (b) outside the local authority area and (c) more than 20 miles away from their home on the latest date for which figures are available.

Edward Timpson: The information requested is attached.



Children looked after at 31 March 2015, placed in 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 54.42 KB)

Department for Education: Visits Abroad

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many visits Ministers of her Department have undertaken to China and Singapore since 2010; on what dates such visits took place; and what the total cost of such visits was.

Nick Gibb: Three Ministerial visits with accompanying officials have been undertaken to China and Singapore since 2010:Nick Gibb to China Date: 27 March to 1 April 2016 Total cost: £21,323Elizabeth Truss to China Date: 23-28 February 2014 Total cost: £28,884Michael Gove to China (as part of the Prime Minister’s delegation) and Singapore Date: 6-13 November 2010 Total cost: £3,901

EU Educational Policy

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the effects on the UK of the EU's Education and Training 2020 programme.

Nick Gibb: The Government agrees that policy exchange between EU Member States can make a useful contribution to international comparisons on education and training.

European Union: Education

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information she holds on the number of schools that have received teaching materials on the EU provided by the EU Commission and the Information Office in the UK.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not hold the information on the number of schools that have received materials from the European Commission.Schools are aware of their duties regarding impartiality and treatment of political issues. Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996 require maintained schools to secure the balanced treatment of political issues. This duty is reflected in the model funding agreement for academies and free schools. Schools are best-placed to understand their pupils’ needs and to tailor their curricula accordingly. They are aware of their duties regarding impartiality and treatment of political issues, and are required to prevent political indoctrination and secure the balanced treatment of political issues. Teaching should equip pupils to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, to debate, and to make reasoned arguments. It should also prepare them to take their place in society as responsible citizens. At key stage 4, the national curriculum includes teaching about local, regional and international governance and the United Kingdom’s relations with the rest of Europe, the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the wider world.

Department for Education: Cheshire

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many jobs in (a) her Department and (b) each of her Department's non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies, non-ministerial departments, advisory bodies and other accountable statutory bodies (i) have been abolished in or relocated from East Cheshire Local Authority since 2010 and (ii) will be abolished in or relocated from East Cheshire Local Authority by 2020.

Nick Gibb: No jobs have been abolished or relocated from East Cheshire Local Authority since 2010.

Teachers

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of teachers (a) actively seeking or in teaching employment by 2020 and (b) needed in such employment by that date; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education uses the Teacher Supply Model (TSM) to estimate the national requirements for the primary phase and each secondary subject for the number of postgraduate Initial Teacher Training places to meet future demand. The model also estimates the number of qualified teachers that will be in active service and the number that will enter into active service (either as Newly Qualified Teachers or those that qualified more than one year beforehand) for each year. The table below shows the number of qualified teachers that will be in active service each year and the number that will enter active service each year as estimated by the 2016/17 TSM:--2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/21Estimated no. of qualified teachers in active service (headcount)Primary238,215240,267241,708243,027243,447244,048Secondary216,284217,681219,268221,456223,722225,540Total454,499457,948460,976464,483467,169469,588Estimated no. of qualified teachers entering active service (headcount)Primary27,15926,62226,11726,08025,34225,464Secondary23,38524,03324,09424,52624,55024,234Total50,54450,65550,21150,60649,89249,697Source: 2016/17 Teacher Supply ModelThe 2016/17 TSM, along with a user guide explaining the methodology in detail, is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-supply-model

Ministry of Justice

Tribunals: Pupil Exclusions

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals against school exclusion were heard at the First Tier Tribunal (SEN and Disabilities) in each year since 2010.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals against school exclusions at the First Tier Tribunal (SEN and Disabilities) were upheld in each year since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: Information about the number of appeals (a) heard against school exclusion and (b) how many were found in favour of the appellant is published by the Ministry of Justice in the Tribunals and Gender Recognition Statistics Quarterly. The most recent statistics for the First-tier Tribunal SEND are for the period 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015, published on 10 December 2015, which can be viewed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2015. These statistics cover the years 2011/12 to 2014/15. The statistics for earlier years can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/385777/sen-tables-2014.xls.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that ex-offenders are helped into work or education upon the completion of their sentence.

Caroline Dinenage: We want prisons to be places of hard work, rigorous education and high ambition, with incentives for prisoners to learn and for prison staff to prioritise education and employment opportunities. We already work with a wide range of employers in prison through One3One Solutions and engagement by Prison Governors. But we want Governors to do more so we are putting the tools to drive this change in the hands of those at the frontline who best know what works. We are keen to increase the number of employers who can provide valuable vocational work for offenders while in prison and who are able to offer them support in preparation for release and employment opportunities following their release. I regularly meet businesses across the country, to encourage them to get involved and new businesses are now coming on board as a consequence. The Employers Forum for Reducing Reoffending brings together employers willing to employ offenders and provides a range of advice and support to new employers considering working with offenders and provides business to business mentoring to members of the Forum. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to increase the involvement of more businesses. The Prime Minister has also announced changes to recruitment practises across the civil service to ensure that people are considered on their merits and not on their criminal conviction and we want to encourage more employers to do the same. Separately, the Secretary of State for Justice has commissioned a review of prison education led by Dame Sally Coates.

Scotland Office

Scottish Affairs Select Committee

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many times he has attended public meetings of the Scottish Affairs Committee since his appointment.

David Mundell: I have met and appeared in front of the Scottish Affairs Committee on two occasions since my appointment as Secretary of State for Scotland and will next be appearing in May.

Ministry of Defence

Syria: Islamic State

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of how many non-extremist opposition fighters in Syria have fought against Daesh since 21 December 2015.

Penny Mordaunt: We share the Joint Intelligence Organisation's assessment that opposition numbers have held up despite recent pressure and that there are significant numbers of non-extremist opposition inside Syria. Numbers in groups fighting Daesh are likely to have increased.

Syria: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of Russian airstrikes on the number of non-extremist opposition fighters in Syria.

Penny Mordaunt: The Syrian regime, backed by Russian airstrikes, has put significant pressure on the non-extremist opposition, particularly in rural Damascus, Hama, Homs, Latakia and Aleppo. However, the Joint Intelligence Organisation has concluded that non-extremist opposition numbers have held up despite recent pressure.

Aviation: Young People

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to encourage interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force among young people.

Mr Julian Brazier: The Royal Air Force (RAF) engages in a number of ways to encourage interest in aviation and the RAF among young people including through its investment in the Air Cadet Organisation. In addition, the RAF Youth Engagement Programme is designed to raise awareness of aviation and aerospace, and their relevance to RAF career choices which require STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) qualifications. The programme runs a number of STEM days in schools and at cadet gatherings all over the country. In addition there are a number of residential placements for students and cadets that bring together hands-on engineering projects with face-to-face engagement with real-life aviators and engineers in the RAF.

Air Cadet Organisation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to secure the long-term sustainable future of the Air Cadet Organisation and to encourage active participation in air cadet organisations.

Mr Julian Brazier: The RAF remains fully committed to the Air Cadet Organisation and have pledged funding in the region of £300 million over the next 10 years. This demonstrates the RAF's full and continued support to this world class youth organisation.All Air Cadet gliding was suspended in 2014 as a result of serious concerns over safety in the fleet. Following this extended pause, the Air Training Corps is restructuring Air Cadet Gliding, refocusing the resource on investing for the future Volunteer Gliding Squadrons and Air Experience Flights as well as building a much improved infrastructure. Where cadets have to travel longer distances, investment is being increased to include good quality residential accommodation for both cadets and staff allowing weekends and camps to take place. Glider experience will also be complemented by increased simulator opportunities on part task trainers.Air Cadet gliding will emerge more resilient in the long run thanks to this reorganisation, and we will get back to a position where all cadets across the country have flying and gliding opportunities every year. Furthermore, the Air Training Corps is engaged in the Cadet Expansion Programme which seeks to increase the number of cadet units in schools by March 2020.

Air Force: Cadets

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support Air Cadet Unit: 6 Romford Squadron and ensure it is not adversely affected by the reduction in the number of volunteer gliding squadrons; and what steps he is taking to provide adequate resources to volunteer gliding squadrons and ensure the increase in cadet units under their control does not result in a reduction in gliding training time per unit.

Mr Julian Brazier: 6F (Romford) Squadron Air Training Corps will continue to be affiliated to 614 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) .I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 18 April 2016 to oral Question 904503 to the hon. Member for Southend West (Sir David Amess).



904503 - Topical question on Gliders
(Word Document, 14.01 KB)

Special Forces: Disclosure of Information

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the reasons are for his policy on withholding categories of information relating to UK special forces from the public; when that policy was last reviewed as to its operational necessity; and whether he plans to review that policy.

Michael Fallon: UK Special Forces (UKSF) are a world class force capable of conducting short notice, high risk operations in the most challenging environments around the world in support of UK interests and the safety and security of our people. In order to maintain their ability to conduct these types of operation it is critical that the security of personnel, equipment and tactics, techniques and procedures is maintained. The long standing policy of not commenting on UKSF has been upheld by successive Governments and is reflected in legislation in the form of the Freedom of Information Act. I have no intention of changing this policy.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what extent the Royal Navy plans to increase naval patrols in the Mediterranean to respond to the increase in attempted illegal crossings by migrants from North Africa.

Penny Mordaunt: We are encouraging the EU counter-migration mission, Operation SOPHIA, to increase its role in tackling irregular migration across the Central Mediterranean. Indeed, earlier this week the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed on the need to evaluate options for increasing SOPHIA's impact on human trafficking networks. This may include broader security support to the legitimate Libyan authorities, for example through potential capacity building. The UK currently has HMS ENTERPRISE deployed in support of Operation SOPHIA, and although we have no immediate plans to increase naval patrols in the Mediterranean, we are keeping our contribution under review as the operation's requirements change.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what advice was provided by UK service personnel to the Saudi military prior to 8 May 2015 on international humanitarian law and the designation of civilian populated city regions as valid military targets.

Penny Mordaunt: The Ministry of Defence has a longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, including the provision of training and advice in a broad range of areas including International Humanitarian Law. The education and training courses which Saudi Arabian military personnel have completed includes courses such as Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context, the Strategic Leadership Programmes, and Initial Officer training courses. These courses expose Saudi military personnel to UK policy, and promote concepts of accountability, compliance with International Humanitarian Law and transparency. They are important in building skills which enable Saudi Arabia to deal appropriately with their own security problems, thereby contributing to regional security.

Department for Work and Pensions

Jobseeker's Allowance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people receiving jobseekers allowance were reported as having failed to turn up for job interviews in the last year.

Priti Patel: This information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people previously in receipt of disability living allowance have had an application for a personal independence payment refused following transition from that allowance to such payments in (a) Easington, (b) the North East and (c) England.

Justin Tomlinson: Such information as is available on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) clearances by type (e.g. awarded, disallowed or withdrawn) for both new claims and reassessed claims (for those previously in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)) is available at Great Britain, Regional, Parliamentary Constituency and Local Authority level, and is published on Gov.UK: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html. Further information on PIP statistics, including PIP award rates for both new claims and reassessed claims by geography, can also be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics.

Bereavement Benefits

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes to (a) notify recently bereaved spouses of the existence of bereavement benefits and (b) encourage those people to check their entitlement.

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for bereavement allowance have been made for each of the last five years; and what proportion of such claims covered (a) the full eligible 52 weeks and (b) less than the full 52 weeks.

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the qualifying period applicants can apply for and claim bereavement allowance after the death of a partner.

Priti Patel: Information about Bereavement Benefits is widely available through GOV.UK. We also work closely with third party organisations who the bereaved traditionally contact such as registrars, hospitals, funeral directors and voluntary groups ensuring that they have the correct information available to signpost the bereaved to the DWP Bereavement Service. Upon contacting the DWP Bereavement Service our staff will ensure that any benefits and pensions arrears are claimed and will also initiate a claim for Social Fund Funeral Payments and Bereavement Benefits if appropriate..We continue to look for opportunities to improve the availability of advice about these particular benefits and as a result we have improved the information available on GOV.UK, and are currently exploring ways in which to to join up the Tell Us Once and Bereavement Service offers. Tell Us Once is a cross-government service delivered through Local Authorities whereby notification of the death is cascaded out to other agencies, thus reducing the number of contacts an individual has to make. The time limit for claiming Bereavement Allowance is three months from the date of death, which is consistent with the time limit for other welfare entitlements. We are currently developing the new Bereavement Support Payment due to be implemented for new claims from April 2017, and we will assess the merits of further flexibilities on backdating as part of this work. Information available on the number of people in receipt of Bereavement Allowance by duration of current claim can be found at:http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/tabtool.html Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: South West

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made on the rollout of superfast broadband (a) in Cheltenham and (b) across the South West.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire local broadband project team are currently not operating in the Cheltenham constituency. Based on DCMS modelled estimates and current delivery plans, it is estimated that 94% of premises in the Cheltenham constituency will have access to superfast broadband as a result of commercial coverage. In addition all premises which cannot currently get 2Mbps will be able take advantage of a subsidised satellite broadband service which can deliver speeds of 10Mbps or more. DCMS has also placed estimates of superfast coverage at constituency level at the end of the current broadband programme in the House of Commons library, reference DEP2015-0163: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/deposited-papers/?fd=2015-02-01&td=2015-04-01&house=1&search_term=Department+for+Culture%2c+Media+and+Sport&itemId=122028#toggle-163

Cyber Innovation Centre: Cheltenham

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the likely benefits the Cyber Innovation Centre will bring to Cheltenham's local economy.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Cyber Innovation Centre in Cheltenham will help local innovators develop new cyber security products and start new companies. This will have a direct benefit to the tech sector in Cheltenham, a benefit which will increase over time as these start-ups grow into what we hope will be world-class firms.

Video on Demand

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of progress on increasing the provision of access services on video on demand content; what further proposals his Department has to improve progress in that area; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The provision of access services on video on demand content has increased in recent years, according to the 2015 Authority for Television on Demand report which can be found here: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/on-demand/access-european/AS_survey_report_2015.pdf. The evidence in this report is supported by dialogue with broadcasters, content providers and platform operators, who fed back to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in Autumn 2015. Ofcom, the principle regulator for video on demand services, is reviewing how to improve the provision of access services on video on demand services.

Home Office

Passports: Photographs

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will arrange a meeting between the Photo Marketing Association and the Passport Office to discuss ensuring that future digitally-supplied ID photographs meet International Civil Aviation Organisation compliance standards and are supplied by photographic professionals.

Mike Penning: Photographic requirements for the British passport are set out in www.gov.uk and are fully compliant with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. HMPO does not currently require passport photographs to be supplied by photographic professionals and there are no plans to change this.The PMA is a member of the Open Identity Exchange (OIX) with whom HM Passport Office has been actively discussing our digital services to ensure open and transparent engagement with all photographic providers.

Horst Kopkow

Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which of the security service files in the series KV2/1500 held in the National Archives on SS Sturmbannführer Kriminaldirektor Horst Kopkow are closed; and for what reasons such files are closed.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 14 April 2016



The Security Service's historic files on Horst KOPKOW were made available to the public at The National Archives in March 2004 (reference numbers KV2/1500 and KV2/1501). KOPKOW also appears in a report on a file at The National Archives relating to the Gestapo that was made available in February 2005 (reference number KV3/109). None of the files held in The National Archives on Horst KOPKOW are closed. Any redactions made to these files have been made for reasons of national security. The Government is committed to releasing historical files to the National Archives where it is appropriate to do so.

Counter-terrorism: Wales

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated to youth-focused projects in South Wales Police area as part of the PREVENT programme in each of the last three years.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 21 April 2016



The Home Office currently funds local Prevent projects delivered by organisations working with young people and we intend to continue supporting this important area of activity. We do not provide detailed information about the funding allocation of local Prevent projects by area.

Police

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to encourage greater co-operation between police forces in the constituent parts of the UK to better enable them to address online crime.

Mr John Hayes: Online crime covers a vast range of criminality; what is illegal offline is also illegal online. However, the internet has enabled crime to be committed in a different way, which requires a different type of approach from Law Enforcement. That is why this Government has committed to spending £1.9 billion on cyber security over the next five years, including for tackling cyber crime.The 2015 Strategic Policing Requirement states that ‘capabilities will be delivered locally by police forces but may need to be brought together nationally through collaborative arrangements between forces or with other partners when the threat or risk demand joint working’. In some cases they are combined to provide an ongoing regional resource that provides a national network of capabilities to disrupt serious and organised crime, for example, through the Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs).The Government has invested over £90 million in ROCUs, over the last three years. In addition to at least a further £20 million in 2016/17, in order to increase and sustain the specialist capabilities required in law enforcement to respond to Serious and Organised Crime including online crime, and to support local forces to investigate online crime in a collaborative way in England and Wales.Action Fraud, within the City of London Police also plays an important role in educating and assisting local forces to investigate cyber crime and cyber enabled fraud, with a particular focus on improving the service to victims.The National Crime Agency (NCA) operates UK wide and works in close collaboration with all UK police forces and other law enforcement partners, including PSNI and Police Scotland (including through two-way tasking and coordination processes). The NCA leads some investigations, whilst supporting and coordinating others.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Cheshire

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many jobs in (a) her Department and (b) each of her Department's non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies, non-ministerial departments, advisory bodies and other accountable statutory bodies (i) have been abolished in or relocated from East Cheshire Local Authority since 2010 and (ii) will be abolished in or relocated from East Cheshire Local Authority by 2020.

Mr Nick Hurd: Neither DFID nor its non-departmental public bodies have had, nor plan to have, any jobs based in East Cheshire Local Authority during the periods in question.

HM Treasury

Trade Agreements

Nick Herbert: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the legal status of the UK's existing trade agreements agreed through membership of the EU of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr David Gauke: All of the EU’s Free Trade Agreements would cease to apply to the UK if we left the EU, since they only apply to the territories to which the EU Treaties apply.

Non-domestic Rates: Appeals

Kevin Brennan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average length of a non domestic rates appeal was in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: The time taken to resolve an appeal can be affected by a number of factors, such as the complexity of the case or whether the case proceeds to be listed for hearing by the independent Valuation Tribunal. Some cases can be held up in litigation or placed on hold at the ratepayer's request. The average (median) time taken to resolve challenges for non-domestic properties in each of the last five years is shown in the attached table. This table covers the 2010 Local Rating Lists. YearMedian (days)2010-11135*2011-123352012-134132013-143902014-15395  *The 2010 list began on 1 April 2010 so only those challenges received in 2010-11 were resolved in 2010-11. In subsequent years, however, challenges received in previous years can also be resolved so the median clearance time may include more complex challenges which took longer to resolve.

Debts

Kevin Brennan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many over-indebted consumers there were from each socio-economic group in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Harriett Baldwin: HM Treasury does not hold information on the number or profile of over-indebted consumers, nor is there any universally agreed definition of what constitutes an over-indebted consumer. The Money Advice Service (MAS) has statutory responsibility to assist members of the public with the management of debt, and within this remit MAS publishes data on the levels of over-indebtedness in the UK. Their most recent report, A Picture of Over-Indebtedness, estimates the statistical likelihood of individuals being over indebted based on a number of characteristics and is available online: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/corporate/a-picture-of-over-indebtedness The technical report includes detailed data and a description of the methodology, and is also available online: https://masassets.blob.core.windows.net/cms/files/000/000/336/original/MAS_PictureOverindebtedness_TechnicalReport_March2016.pdf

Individual Savings Accounts

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people under 40 who will take up both a lifetime ISA and a standard ISA in each of the first three years that both those ISAs are available.

Mr David Gauke: The Government is creating a new Lifetime ISA, providing savers with the flexibility to save towards a first home and retirement at the same time. From April 2017, people aged 18 to 40 will be able to open and save up to £4,000 each year into a Lifetime ISA and receive a 25% bonus from the Government, paid annually after the end of the tax year. People can make full withdrawals from their Lifetime ISA accounts for a first home purchase (subject to a house price cap of £450,000 UK-wide) or from age 60. These withdrawals will be tax free. The Lifetime ISA is a voluntary product. For further information on the costing of this policy, please see page 9 of the Budget 2015 Policy Costings document: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508147/PU1912_Policy_Costings_FINAL3.pdf More than 350,000 first time buyers have opened a Help to Buy ISA since it became available. ISA statistics are published on the GOV.UK website. Table 9.7 sets out the number of individuals subscribing to ISAs: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/number-of-individuals-subscribing-to-an-individual-savings-account-isa-by-income

Taxation: Self-assessment

Kate Hoey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of small businesses which will not be able to afford the digital accounting software to enable them to submit digital tax returns; and if he will make a statement.

Kate Hoey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from business groups (a) opposing and (b) supporting his plans to require small businesses to submit quarterly digital tax returns; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: The Government has committed to ensuring free software is available for those with the simplest affairs in order that businesses can meet the requirements of Making Tax Digital. In addition, many businesses are already using digital record-keeping tools to deal with their tax affairs. The Government has received a number of representations from individuals, businesses, professional bodies and the software industry about Making Tax Digital. Both I and officials from HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs have discussed the reforms with a wide range of professional bodies and advisory groups representing small businesses and the self-employed. Extensive consultation will take place throughout 2016.

Public Bodies: Fees and Charges

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many statutory instruments to vary fees charged by public bodies have been laid in Parliament under section 102 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1987 in each year since 2009-10; how many of those proposals have allowed public bodies to (a) increase fees, (b) levy fees to raise revenues in excess of the cost of the services that body provides and (c) levy fees to raise revenues below the cost of the services that body provides.

Greg Hands: The public record indicates that there was one statutory instrument authorised by parliament, laid under the authority of section 102 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1987, during the 2009-10 parliamentary session, and none in subsequent sessions.This instrument allowed the former Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to take past deficits into account in setting fee levels under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, for the three years ending on 31 March 2013. Whether individual fee levels subsequently increased or decreased in any year would depend on the level of costs incurred by OFT in delivering the services for which fees were charged in those years.A decision to levy fees below the costs of the service in any year would have been for the OFT to determine in proposing its fee levels for the subsequent years, and its sponsor department in agreeing how to fund any shortfalls.

Public Bodies: Fees and Charges

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications from public sector organisations his Department has received to (a) increase service charges, (b) charge above cost for public services and (c) charge below cost for public services in each year since 2009-10; and how many such applications have been (i) approved and (ii) rejected.

Greg Hands: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Treasury consent is required for all proposals to extend or vary charging schemes, and Treasury guidance advises that it is good practice to review these routinely at least once a year, and if appropriate revise the charging level. This leads to a large number of requests for consent being received by HM Treasury on a regular basis, not all of which are collated centrally.

Loans: Defaulters

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Financial Conduct Authority has made of the effect that the GC16/2  proposal, published in February 2016, to require lenders to issue default notices before collecting from guarantors would have on (i) the number of borrower defaults subsequently reported to the Credit Reference Agencies, (ii) borrowers' credit scores and (iii) levels of financial exclusion.

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's consultation on enforcing guarantor loans, GC16/2, published in February 2016, whether his Department has received representations from the (a) Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and (b) any other organisation on the consistency of the FCA's proposed interpretation of the word enforce in section 87(1)(e) of the Consumer Credit Act.

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the reasons for the FCA changing its policy on whether guarantor lenders should have to issue legal default notices on borrowers before collecting money from guarantors as set in PS15/23, of September 2015, to that set in GC16/2, of February 2016.

Harriett Baldwin: These are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and relate to FCA Guidance Consultation (GC16/2) issued on the interpretation of provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974, regarding whether a default notice should be given to a guarantor before payment is taken from them when a borrower defaults. The FCA is currently considering responses to the consultation and will publish a response after considering the complex issues raised.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Phil Boswell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential price per share at sale of the Government's 73 per cent stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland compared to the amount paid per share in 2008.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government will conduct further sales of RBS shares subject to market conditions, and in doing so will maximise value for the taxpayer. The OBR presented an estimate of future proceeds in the March 2016 Budget.

Offshore Industry: Loans

Phil Boswell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the rising default rate of companies in the oil and gas sector on their high-yield loans on wider stability of the financial sector.

Harriett Baldwin: The Chancellor has set out the government’s view on the challenges facing the UK economy at budget on 16 March 2016. The transcript of the speech is available from:www.gov.uk/government/speeches/budget-2016-george-osbornes-speech In addition, the Bank of England’s December 2015 Financial Stability Report sets out analysis on the exposures of UK banks to commodity sectors. The full report can be found here:www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Pages/fsr/2015/dec.aspx

Royal Bank of Scotland

Phil Boswell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made on the potential selling price of the Government's remaining stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland of the implications for the leveraged loans made by that bank to the oil and gas sector of the default rate of companies in that sector on high-yield loans.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government’s shareholding in RBS is managed at arm’s length from HM Treasury by UK Financial Investments (UKFI). However, UKFI’s role is to manage the investment, not the bank. RBS retains its own independent Board of Directors. Commercial decisions such as lending remain the responsibility of the bank’s independent management team and not the Government.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what measures she has put in place to compensate officers of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary if they are dismissed because of failing (a) fitness and (b) eyesight tests for reasons attributable to advancing age.

Andrea Leadsom: This is a matter for the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, who are responsible for the terms and conditions of the officers they employ, as well as ensuring that the capability of officers meets the standards required to carry out their mission of protecting civil nuclear material.

Fuels: Subsidies

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, why it is the Government's policy to grant subsidies for biomass and not for coal; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Renewables, including sustainably sourced bioenergy, play an important part in moving us towards a low-carbon energy mix and increasing our energy security through wider diversification. We have seen costs fall for a range of low carbon technologies, helping to keep costs down for consumers and ensuring we deliver value for money.

Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department holds data on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per one tonne of (a) biomass and (b) coal when burned; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The 1990-2014 Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory provides estimates of the emissions from burning fuels. There is variation between different types of biomass and coal in their carbon dioxide emissions. The emissions of carbon dioxide from burning 1 tonne of wood in an average UK biomass fuelled power station is 1.055 tonnes. The emissions of carbon dioxide from burning 1 tonne of coal in an average UK coal fired power station is 2.248 tonnes Emissions of carbon dioxide from biomass combusted in the energy sector are not reported within the national totals in the GHG inventory as the change in carbon stock they represent is by convention reported in the land use change and forestry sector.

Coal: Reserves

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department holds up-to-date estimates of the level of coal reserves in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The following table shows the coal reserves for England, Scotland and Wales as at 22 December 2015:  Million Tonnes of ReservesEnglandScotlandWalesTotal3,4262244844,134Source: The Coal Authority. Includes: reserves at current and licenced (including closed) mines, plus identified and well developed prospects.

Coal Fired Power Stations

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she plans to open her Department's consultation on the timetable for closing all coal-fired power stations in the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 21 April 2016



My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in her speech on 18 November that the Department will be launching a consultation to close all coal fired power stations. A consultation will be launched shortly.

Energy

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if her Department will take steps to ensure that (a) the UK is energy secure and independent and (b) reliance on foreign gas supplies and cross border electrical connections coupled with decommissioning of UK energy resources does not result in an energy shortage in the UK in the next 10 years.

Andrea Leadsom: Energy security is my top priority. The Department will take the steps needed to ensure hard working families and business have the energy they need, including from overseas where this adds to the diversity and cost effectiveness of our energy supplies. Interconnection provides greater security of supply as we import from a diverse generation mix, allowing us to access, for example, Norway’s large amounts of hydropower. The UK has an open and competitive gas market in which gas is traded freely. Gas enters the UK system from a range of sources including the UK Continental Shelf, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the LNG imports. This diverse and flexible range of domestic and foreign supplies ensures security of supply, encourages competition and helps to lower energy costs for British consumers and industry.

Renewable Energy

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to tackle the reduction in investment for renewable energy projected between 2017 to 2020 in the most recent National Infrastructure Pipeline, published on 23 March 2016.

Andrea Leadsom: Nearly £52 billion has been invested in renewables since 2010. The average annual investment in renewables has more than doubled in the last 5 years, with an average of £9bn invested each year in UK-based renewables. Indeed, 2015 was another record year with £13bn invested in renewable electricity. In order to support further investment in renewables, we announced in the 2016 Budget funding for three further Contracts For Difference allocation rounds, worth £730m of annual support. We have also announced that the Renewable Heat Incentive budget will continue to March 2021, when it will reach £1.15 billion.

Climate Change Convention: Paris

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress the Government has made on its commitment to enshrine the Paris climate deal into UK law.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 21 April 2016



The UK is already playing its part in delivering the Paris climate deal, through its contribution to meeting EU climate and energy targets and through its domestic climate framework set out in the Climate Change Act. In addition, the Government believes we need to take the step of enshrining the global goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions into UK law. As a first step, our independent advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, are looking at the implications of the Paris commitments. The Committee has said that it will report in the autumn, and we will consider carefully the recommendations.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of raising the level of support offered through the Contract for Difference for Hinkley Point C as a result of low wholesale energy prices.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 21 April 2016



The Contract for Difference mechanism provides increased price certainty to generators regardless of wholesale electricity sale prices, thereby incentivising investment in low carbon generation. It does this by paying the generator the difference between the strike price and the market reference price (a composite of wholesale price indices) for electricity sold into the market for the duration of the contract. The generator will make difference payments back to the Low Carbon Contracts Company should the market reference price rise above the strike price. The strike price for the Hinkley Point C project was agreed in October 2013 and is £92.50/MWh. If EDF take a Final Investment Decision in relation to Sizewell C, the strike price for Hinkley Point C will be reduced to £89.50/MWh.

Energy: Prices

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when her Department will publish its most recent assessment of the effect of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 21 April 2016



The Government is committed to making energy more affordable, supporting a more competitive, innovative, and smarter energy system that drives down bills. At the last Autumn Statement, the government also set out action to reduce the projected impact of policies on average household energy bills by around £30 a year from 2017. The Department intends to publish, in due course, an update on the projected costs of policies funded through supplier levies and obligations that impact consumer energy bills. In addition, the department continues to assess the impact of individual policy proposals on the energy bills of various consumers (including households and businesses), which it sets out in relevant policy impact assessments, available online at www.gov.uk.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Electricity Generation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her Department's definition is of abated coal-fired electricity generation; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Any new coal plant must demonstrate carbon capture and storage on at least 300 MW of its proposed generating capacity and comply with the Emissions Performance Standard. The Department will be launching a consultation on closing unabated coal-fired power stations and will ask for views on what measures might be suitable for existing coal.

Offshore Industry: North East

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the number of people from the North East of England working offshore in each year since 2010.

Andrea Leadsom: Oil and Gas UK in the UK Continental Shelf Offshore Workforce Demographics Report 2015 estimate that of the total number of offshore workers resident in the UK, 13.8 per cent (7,711) live in the North East of England.

Oil: Exploration

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the firm work commitments relating to Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence 189 which expire on 30 June 2016 have been satisfied.

Andrea Leadsom: Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence 189 carries an Initial Term Work Programme to obtain and reprocess seismic data and to drill a well. The seismic data has been acquired and reprocessed. The operator has requested from the Oil and Gas Authority an amendment of the licence to allow additional time for the drilling of the well.

Oil: Exploration

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether a deed of variation has been agreed for Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence 189.

Andrea Leadsom: A deed of variation has not been agreed for this licence.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she expects to sign the Investor Agreement for Hinkley Point C power station; and what conditions will have to be fulfilled by EDF before that signing.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she has signed the Investor Agreement with EDF to proceed with Hinkley Point C as set out in the departmental minute of 21 October 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State is minded to proceed with the Contract for Difference and associated agreements for Hinkley Point C, including the Investor Agreement, subject to EDF taking a final investment decision. EDF and the French Government have said that EDF are working towards a Final Investment Decision ‘in the near future, with the full support of the French Government’.

Nuclear Reactors: Research

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what research her Department has commissioned on the particular challenges of implementing cyber security to cover small modular reactors (SMRs); and whether the recently announced competition for research on SMRs includes research on cyber security.

Andrea Leadsom: Any nuclear reactor or facility proposed for deployment in the UK is subject to regulation. Therefore, any small modular reactor (SMR) design proposed for construction would undergo safety, security and environmental design assessment, including an assessment of cyber security. Ensuring safety and security is the legal duty of operators and safety and security at all nuclear sites are kept under regular review. The UK’s independent regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), carries out inspections to ensure operators are fulfilling their duties and that robust safety and security measures are in place across the industry. DECC is working with ONR to ensure that the regulatory regime is fit for any possible future deployment of SMRs. DECC is currently developing the detail of the programme that will be taken forward as part of the £250m nuclear innovation, research and development funding announced by my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Autumn Statement. The recommendations and advice of the Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board and key stakeholders will be taken into account in the process.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: China

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what occasions (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers and (c) Ministers in his Department have received hospitality from the government of China in the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Codes of Practice

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department's guidance for civil servants on acceptance of gifts or hospitality applies to special advisers.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on publication of the registers of gifts and hospitality for civil servants.

Matthew Hancock: We publish details of gifts and hospitality received by the most senior civil servants on a quarterly basis.The rules for civil servants, including special advisers, on the acceptance of gifts and hospitality are set out in the Civil Service Code, Civil Service Management Code and departmental staff handbooks.

Civil Servants: Codes of Practice

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the National Audit Office investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality by government officials (HC 797, 2015-16).

Matthew Hancock: The Government is currently considering the conclusions put forward by the NAO in its recent report on Gifts and Hospitality.

Cabinet Office: Visits Abroad

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which countries the Government Anti-Corruption Champion has visited in the course of his official duties.

Matthew Hancock: Details of the Anti-Corruption Champion's travel and related costs will be published on an annual basis on GOV.UK in due course.

Zero Hours Contracts: Young People

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people under the age of 25 in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Glasgow Central constituency are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Zero Hour Contracts
(PDF Document, 313.79 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: European Union

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which EU schemes her Department administers; if she will estimate the annual cost of administering each such scheme in each of the (a) last and (b) next five years; if she will estimate the total value of each scheme in each of the (i) last and (ii) next five years; and for which schemes her Department has been subject to infraction proceedings from the EU Commission.

George Eustice: There are two EU funds under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Defra administers the CAP in England. The Devolved Administrations administer these EU schemes separately. The estimated value of these funds from 2011 to 2020 are set out in the table below, figures are for England. The current Multiple Financial Framework runs until 2020 so that is the last year where there is an estimate of the total value for both of the schemes.  YearEuropean Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) €mEuropean Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) €m20112,08644720122,11546920131,90953120142,04644220152,04633320162,04859020172,05259020182,05659020192,06259020202,068591 Decisions relating to the implementation of the CAP in England are integrated into numerous policy areas within the Department and the delivery of the CAP is carried out primarily by the Rural Payments Agency, Natural England and Forestry Commission, alongside other business. This arrangement allows the various objectives of the CAP to be delivered effectively. However, this integrated approach to delivery also makes it difficult to calculate the total annual cost of the CAP in isolation. This is something that was identified by the NAO in its recent report ‘Early Development of the CAP Delivery Programme’, and the Department is currently considering how to respond to this recommendation. In relation to these two schemes the Department has not been subject to any infraction proceedings from the EU in the last five years.

Department of Health

Tobacco: Packaging

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will delay the start date for the introduction of standardised packaging on tobacco products in light of the post-implementation review of the measure in Australia.

Jane Ellison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 April 2016 to Question 32266.

Lyme Disease: Screening

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spent on Lyme disease laboratory tests in each of the last three years.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new guidelines on the recognition and treatment of Lyme disease are made available by July 2018.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking before the introduction of new guidelines on the recognition and treatment of Lyme disease expected by July 2018 to ensure that people with that disease are diagnosed quickly.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time taken is for the NHS to diagnose cases of Lyme disease.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets his Department has set to increase early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spent on late-stage Lyme disease treatment in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: As services for the treatment of Lyme disease are commissioned locally information on the costs associated with laboratory testing and treatment of late stage Lyme disease is not collected centrally. Nor is information collected centrally on the average time to diagnose cases of Lyme disease. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing a clinical guideline on Lyme disease and reports progress on its website. NICE recently consulted on a draft scope for the guideline, and expects to publish final guidance in July 2018. Public Health England and NHS Choices publish information on their websites to raise awareness of Lyme disease and encourage timely medical consultation because early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is the best way of limiting complications from infection. Given the need to maintain public awareness these or similar mechanisms are expected to continue beyond 2018. Increased awareness is likely to encourage early consultation but no information on the time taken to seek medical advice is available. There are no plans to set targets for diagnosis and treatment as most cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed empirically by general practitioners using their clinical judgement rather than relying on a laboratory test, thus treatment can start immediately. Diagnosis of patients with late or complicated Lyme disease can be difficult and the National Health Service will continue to provide care taking account of the existing evidence base.

Brain: Tumours

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the NHS is taking to improve the early diagnosis of brain tumours.

Jane Ellison: Improving early diagnosis of cancer is a priority for this Government. We have seen an increase of over 25% in general practitioner (GP) referrals for Magnetic Resonance Imaging for potential brain tumours, from 31,000 in 2012-13 to over 50,000 in 2014-15. In order to continue to support GPs to identify patients whose symptoms may indicate cancer and urgently refer them as appropriate, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published an updated suspected cancer referral guideline in June 2015. The guideline includes new recommendations for brain tumours in adults and children and young people. NICE noted that more lives could be saved each year in England if GPs followed the new guideline, which encourages GPs to think of cancer sooner and lower the referral threshold. Following publication of the updated guideline, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) has worked in collaboration with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) on a programme of regional update events for GPs to promote the new guideline. RCGP and CRUK have also worked to develop three summary referral guidelines for GPs to enable them to adopt the guideline. The British Medical Journal has published two summaries including one for children and young adults and Macmillan Cancer Support has produced an updated Rapid Referral Toolkit. All the summary guidelines and the toolkit are available on the Cancer Research UK website at: www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/learning-and-development-tools/nice-cancer-referral-guidelines NHS England’s Accelerate, Coordinate, Evaluate (ACE) pilots are exploring new models for delivering a diagnosis quickly and effectively, including piloting a multi-disciplinary diagnostic centre, which we hope will be particularly effective for patients with vague or unclear symptoms, although these pilots are primarily aimed at adults in the first instance. More generally, improving early diagnosis of cancer was clearly highlighted as a strategic priority in Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes A Strategy for England 2015-2020, published in July 2015 by the Independent Cancer Taskforce.

Diabetes: Chiropody

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve inpatient foot care for people with diabetes who are admitted to hospital.

Jane Ellison: The National Inpatient Diabetes Audit has demonstrated yearly improvements in inpatient foot care. The 2013 report found that more patients were having foot examinations on admission to hospital and the number of hospitals with multidisciplinary foot care teams had increased. There had also been a significant reduction in hospital acquired foot problems. A link to the report is available at: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB13662/nati-diab-inp-audi-13-nat-rep.pdf A number of steps are being taken to continue to improve foot care for people with diabetes admitted to hospital. The Department has made achieving a measurable reduction in variation in the management and care of people with diabetes by 2020 a mandate objective for NHS England. Improving foot care for people with diabetes is an important part of achieving this objective. NHS England will support clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and providers in identifying the steps they need to take to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes, including foot care services for inpatients. Improvements in outcomes for patients with diabetes will be monitored as part of the CCG Improvement and Assessment Framework. The National Diabetes Foot Care Audit, the first of which was published in March, provides data on all diabetes foot care services. This will enable all foot care services to measure their performance against the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines and peer units, and to monitor adverse outcomes for people who develop diabetic foot disease.

Dementia: Southampton

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of adults in Southampton have been diagnosed with dementia in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Ellison: Information is not available in the format requested. The number of people recorded on the practice dementia disease register is available in the Quality and Outcomes Framework, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, from 2006/07, when dementia indicators were introduced into the framework. The proportion of patients diagnosed is not available but the numbers of people on the dementia register are available. This is a measure of prevalence rather than incidence.

NHS Improvement

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the legal status of NHS Improvement is; how and to whom that body is accountable; and what functions he has in relation to that body.

Ben Gummer: NHS Improvement has brought together two distinct legal entities: Monitor, a non-departmental public body and the NHS Trust Development Authority, a special health authority, under a single leadership and operating model. It is a combination of the continuing statutory functions and legal powers vested in these organisations. They will continue to maintain their current legal underpinnings as two separate bodies, although they will function as a single organisation to manage NHS trusts and foundation trusts more effectively in the interests of patients and taxpayers. NHS Improvement will be accountable directly to Parliament, the Secretary of State and the Department’s Principal Accounting Officer for discharge of Monitor’s statutory and regulatory functions and to the Secretary of State and Principal Accounting Officer for the specific functions of the Trust Development Authority.

Post-polio Syndrome

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people in the UK who are affected by post-polio syndrome; what steps are being taken to fund (a) treatment of and (b) research into that condition; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: It is estimated that there are around 120,000 people living in the United Kingdom who survived polio when they were younger. Although some of these have or will develop post-polio syndrome (PPS), it is not known exactly how many polio survivors are affected and estimates vary. Commissioning of services for PPS is a local matter. People with PPS can usually be managed through routine access to primary or second care provided via a general practitioner (GP) or consultant. Treatment will depend on the severity of a patient’s condition, but care may involve: pain relieving medication; physiotherapy; dietary and exercise advice; and counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy. Although not currently funding any research into PPS, the National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including PPS. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Maggie Throup: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which areas have been chosen as test sites for the pre-exposure drug prophyaxis (PrEP); what selection criteria have been used to identify those test sites; and what measures his Department plans to use to assess the effectiveness of PrEP in the test sites over the next two years.

Jane Ellison: The planning of the process to select test sites, including timing and criteria for selection, will continue alongside NHS England’s review of its position on the commissioning of pre-exposure prophyaxis (PrEP).

Chronic Illnesses: Pharmacy

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to allow community pharmacies to care for patients with long-term health conditions through (a) medical reviews and (b) other assistance with that condition.

Alistair Burt: Community pharmacies already take significant steps to care for patients with long term conditions (LTCS). Community pharmacy staff routinely deliver a range of services to meet the needs of patients with LTCs, including timely dispensing of medicines, opportunistic and prescription-linked public health interventions, such as advice on a healthy diet and nutrition, stop smoking advice to help maintain the health of people with LTCs such as diabetes and heart disease, support for self-care and signposting, when they are not able to provide the support themselves. In addition, community pharmacists provide advice on the safe use of medicines so they are taken as intended, through medicines use reviews and the new medicines service, the latter intended for people with certain LTCs prescribed new medicines. Utilising pharmacists clinical skills assists with optimising medicines in a way which puts patients at the centre of decision making, with regular monitoring and review, helping to improve their health outcomes. The Government’s vision is for a more efficient, modern system that will free up pharmacists to spend more time delivering clinical and public health services to the benefit of patients, including those with LTCs, and the public.